Africa Haiku Society

13/04/2024

An Invitation to a Rengay Gathering by Sherry Grant.

I have just sent off zoom details for the 6th IRG (International Rengay Gathering) Zoe and I will host in about 24 hours from now. So far over 20 poets from around the world have signed up to attend.

In this rengay gathering we will open with a short round of quick introductions from all poets, followed by a talk by our guest speaker Don Baird (USA) and then all will go into breakout rooms to write rengay together.

For this time Zoe and I would like to invite each participating poet to bring an old published haiku (with first publication credit) they’ve written as potential starter verses.

Below are the time zones for this gathering. Not too late to sign up yet! Just send me an email: rainingrengay(at)gmail(dot)com

Also Issue 3 and 4 of Raining Rengay is open for submission at the moment…

Time zones:

7-9am Sunday 14 April NZ

5-7pm Saturday 13 April Eastern Time

4-6pm Saturday 13 April Central Time

2-4pm Saturday 13 April Pacific Time

10pm-midnight Saturday 13 April London

11pm Saturday 13 April-1am Sunday 14 April Amsterdam

2:30-4:30am Sunday 14 April Mumbai, India

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/i8W5u7Qn7sPS1YLi/?mibextid=Whttps://www.facebook.com/share/p/i8W5u7Qn7sPS1YLi/?mibextid=WC7FNeC7FNe

02/04/2024

Hello everyone,

The Haiku Poets of Northern California would like to make members aware of the 2024 San Francisco International Haibun Contest. This contest is open to all poets writing in the haibun genre. The deadline for submissions is May 1st and complete guidelines can be found at hpnc.org.

Please feel free to contact the organizers with any questions.

J Hahn Doleman, HPNC Contest Coordinator, looks forward to your participation.

23/03/2024

Hello everyone,

It is with mixed emotions that we bring you this edition of The Mamba. We are delighted to share our offerings with our cherished readers worldwide, yet saddened by the absence of our esteemed founder and editor, Adjei Agyei-Baah. He passed away suddenly on December 18th of last year, and this journal is dedicated to his memory.

As always, this issue features haiku submissions from across the globe, showcasing the diverse cultural and personal experiences of our contributors. We have also dedicated a page to Adjei, offering readers a glimpse of his significant impact on haiku on a global scale. This section includes haiku, either composed or inspired by Adjei, by the haiku community in honour of him. Additionally, Justice Joseph Prah offers a sterling literary review of Adjei's Scaring Crow, serving as a testament to the talent we have sadly lost. Myron Lysenko as well offers a review of Emmanuel Jessie Kalusian’s chapbook The Map of Nowhere.

We hope you enjoy exploring the diverse voices and perspectives within this edition of The Mamba. We kindly ask that you keep Adjei Agyei-Baah's family in your thoughts during this difficult time.

https://africahaikunetwork.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mamba-issue-15-february-2024.pdf

16/02/2024

A Brief Update for Our Members, Readers, Followers, and Facebook Community,

We are pleased to announce that we are migrating to a new page here on Facebook. We kindly ask everyone to follow the link below to join our new page.

This new page will continue to promote Africa Haiku and uphold our core values as we gradually transition most of our activities to this new platform.

We sincerely appreciate your ongoing support over the years. Thank you to each and every one of you.

https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555866523648

Africa's premier haiku community. The Publishers of Africa's first Haiku Journal the Mamba.

28/12/2023

To the Global Haiku Community,

It is with a deep sense of shock and regret that we announce the untimely death of our founder and leader, Adjei Agyei-Baah.

Mr. Adjei Agyei-Baah co-founded The Mamba, Africa's premier haiku journal, and was a trailblazer in the practice of haiku on the African continent. His influence was far-reaching, as he mentored many current haiku writers in Africa.

Mr. Adjei Agyei-Baah was scheduled to complete his PhD at the University of Waikato in New Zealand this month. He leaves behind a significant legacy.

We ask all well-wishers and sympathizers to keep the family in their prayers during this difficult time.

Thank you.
AHN Editorial Board.

29/09/2023

IT IS HERE!

Hello, world! We couldn't close out the year without fulfilling our deepest desire to bring you the second issue of 'The Mamba' for this year. This has been made possible thanks to your unwavering support for our journal.

What can you expect in this issue? We have once again curated a delightful collection of haiku from various countries. There is also a haibun by Taofeek Ayeyemi which leaves one reminiscing childhood. Additionally, we are proud to feature some of our young talents who not only participated but also secured prizes in the 2022-2023 JAL Foundation World Children's Haiku competition. At the review section of the journal are also some insightful takes on two books. Jerome Berglund and Brian Bartlett deliver interesting reviews on Between Two Dates by Kwaku Feni Adow and Scaring Crow by Adjei Agyei-Baah respectively. Both chapbooks can be downloaded for free on our website.

As we approach the end of the year, let's find renewed strength to finish even stronger and better than when we first began. We also offer this in solidarity with our brothers and sisters recently struck by disaster in Morocco. Our thoughts and prayers remain with you. We hope you enjoy this issue and we look forward to reading your haiku submissions for our next edition.

Download the new Mamba Issue here:https://africahaikunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2023/09/mamba-issue-14-1.pdf

18/07/2023

Call for Submissions

https://www.artsinfinitypress.com/km100nz-haikucompetition

07/07/2023

Exciting News. One of our very own, Emmanuel Jessie Kalusian drops his first ever haiku colection, Map of Nowhere. Find details of the book and link below.

We hope you enjoy this treat from one of Africa's recognizable voices in haiku who also is the co-founder of our cherished Society of African haijins.

REVIEW OF OPENING PIECE IN THE BOOK 'MAP OF NOWHERE.'

plane ticket...
the drizzle becomes
a downpour

Haiku is a magical poem, deceptively simple and short with layers of meanings. In this piece, featured in MAP OF NOWHERE, we see the start of a journey; so much expectation for what the journey holds until nature steps in and what was a drizzle turned into a downpour!

The poet's persona unable to continue his journey: depicts how life steps in the way to interrupt our beautiful plans. A child has a dream of becoming a doctor, but loses both parents at an early age in a ghastly accident...

However, there's is hope, a beckoning glimpse of fresh light at the tail end of life's tunnel. Everyday is an opportunity to start that journey, to get another 'plane ticket' to your 'destination'. Today might be sunny but how would one know except they try again!

Grab a digital copy of this thrilling book using the link below:

THE MAP OF NOWHERE is a compelling title. Why nowhere? Where is nowhere? How do we get there? Will I find out by reading the work within? The first haiku sets the scene, as the opening line shows the excitement of a journey which is then tempered with a disappointing change in the weather...

24/05/2023

WE ARE EXCITED TO BE BACK !!!

After a long break, we are overjoyed to present the 13th issue of the Mamba, Journal of Africa Haiku Network. We have received numerous enquiries during our hiatus, and while it was disappointing not to fulfil your expectations, we are comforted by the fact that you have kept us in your thoughts which shows how highly you regard the Mamba. We appreciate your continued support through reading, sharing and submitting your outstanding haiku. This support has made everything possible to be back again. As with previous issues, this one features a collection of incredible experiences shared through the lens of haiku. You will also find a sterling review of Adjei Agyei-Baah's new haiku collection Scaring Crow written by Keith Simmonds. We are confident that you will relish this edition. Thank you for your patience and let us celebrate this new chapter together.

Click on the link to download our journal.

https://africahaikunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2023/05/the-mamba-13.pdf

14/05/2023

A reminder that submission for issue 2 of Haiku Zoo Journal is open to poets 20 years old or younger until 30 June 2023. Spread the word!

Zoe and I would love to see submissions from all over the world in English and whichever other language with English translation. Do encourage young people around you to write haiku and other short form poetry.

We are especially excited to see collaborations between young poets in rengay and haiga, or Japanese short form poetry book reviews written by the young ones!

You can read the current issue (issue one) online at www.haikuzoojournal.wordpress.com and young poets can submit up to 3 poems in each submission period to haikuzoojournal(at)gmail(dot)com

Limited amount of paperback edition will be printed in NZ by June 2023 and hopefully later also available internationally on demand through Amazon!

04/10/2022

Featuring a piece by one of our own, Kwaku Feni Adow.

04/10/2022

STILL OPEN!!!

The Annual HSA Renku Award for 2022 in memorial of Bernard Lionel Einbond.

Judges: Christopher Herold and Patricia Machmiller.

Awards: First Prize, $200; Second Prize, $150; Third Prize, $100.

Deadline: October 31, 2022.

How to enter: Full details, including guidelines, and where to send entries, are posted on the HSA website.

1. One copy, with full authorship information, stanza by stanza, must give the full name and address of all authors, and indicate the coordinator (to whom any correspondence will be addressed).

21/06/2022

B R E A K I N G !

The Editors of the Mamba Journal regret to announce an unintended but necessary hiatus. This is due to certain constraints on our part. As a result, the next issue of the Mamba is rescheduled to be published at a later date.

We humbly ask submitters, if they so wish, to leave their submitted works with us to be published as soon as we are back. Submitters also have the option to pull out their submissions and submit elsewhere. We would prefer to receive mails ONLY from those who decide to take their works elsewhere. For those who do not write back to us, we would assume that you would want us to publish your work when we resume.

Your support of the Journal in your genuine patronage is really appreciated. We are also sorry for any inconvenience this decision may have caused you.

As always, best.
AHS Team.

28/04/2022

“SCARING CROW” Collection Published!!
It happened much faster than I expected. My 6th haiku poetry collection, “Scaring Crow” has just been released by the Buttonhook Press in United Stated (California) in collaboration with Open: Journal of Arts & Letters (O:JAL). My Outstanding kudos goes to my haiku overlords Hiraoki Sato (for writing the foreword) and Professor John Zheng and Scott Mason (for writing the blurb) of the book. I also thank all my friends, the haiku community and my uni (University of Waikato) for their continued support and inspiration. More details about the book and where to buy hard prints copies will be shared later.

24/04/2022

Dear haiku and tanka poets! Haiku circle “Shukan”, Bulgaria kindly invites you to take part in the Bulgarian International Haiku and Tanka Contest “Kotodama – the souls of the words or haiku and tanka beyond the description” with international jury as follows: Hiroaki Sato (Honorary Chairman of the Jury), Ikuyo Yoshimura, Richard Gilbert, Yuki Ito, Dejan Bogoevich, Dimitar Anakiev – Kamesan and Venelina Petkova. In the contest we aim to honor the national languages, kotodama and the authentic Japanese form of haiku and tanka. Writing in 5-7-5 (7-7) form is not compulsory, but is very desirable. Please, feel very much welcomed! Feel free to share this unique and new contest, thank you!
For detailed information please download the pdf file in English here https://dox.abv.bg/download?id=c8199c2618 or read it in the pinned post here:
https://www.facebook.com/BulgarianGendaiHaiku

15/04/2022

Just released! The April 2022 Issue of Asahi Shimbun Haiku Journal edited by Prof David McMurray. Enjoy and share!

returning home the old plum blossoms again--Angela Giordano (Avigliano, Italy)

26/03/2022

***ANNOUNCEMENT***

The HSA Nicholas Virgilio Memorial Award
DEADLINE EXTENDED
to April 3rd!!!

Teachers, parents, young poets: You still have time to enter the 33nd Annual Nicholas Virgilio Haiku and Senryu Competition for Grades 7-12.

Deadline: In hand online by April 3, 2022.
Eligibility: Any student in grades 7 through 12 enrolled in school as of September 2021 may enter.

Regulations: Submit up to three haiku/senryu per student.
For full details: check the HSA website:
https://www.hsa-haiku.org/hsa-contests.htm

Founded by the Sacred Heart Church in Camden, NJ, and co-sponsored by the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association in memory of Nicholas A. Virgilio, a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, who died in 1989. The Haiku Society of America is also a co-sponor of the contest, providing judges, and publ...

25/03/2022

The 11th Setouchi-Matsuyama International Photo-Haiku Contest Results.

https://matsuyamahaiku.jp/contest/result2021_11th/eng_free.php

25/03/2022

THE ANNUAL HAIKU SOCIETY OF AMERICA SENRYU AWARD IN MEMORIAL OF GERALD BRADY

The Gerald Brady Memorial awards were first made possible with a donation by Virginia Brady Young in memory of her brother, Gerald Brady.

Deadline:

HSA Senryu Award Contest:
Opens June 1, 2022 and closes July 31, 2022.

Eligibility: The contest is open to the public. HSA officers who are members of the executive committee are not eligible, but regional coordinators may enter.

Regulations: Up to 5 unpublished senryu, not submitted for publication or to any other contest. Publication is defined as an appearance in a printed book, magazine, or journal (sold or given away), or in any online journal that presents edited periodic content. The appearance of poems in online discussion lists or personal web sites is not considered publication. Judges will be asked to disqualify any senryu that they have seen before.

Adjudication: The names of the judge(s) will be announced after the contest.

Awards: First Prize, $200; Second Prize, $150; Third Prize, $100. Winning haiku will be published in Frogpond and on the HSA Web site.

Rights: All rights revert to the authors after publication.

To see the award senryu for 2021 and the judges' commentary:

HSA Senryu Award 2021

See the entire collection of past award senryu:

HSA Senryu Competition Collection

https://www.hsa-haiku.org/hsa-contests.htm

Founded by the Sacred Heart Church in Camden, NJ, and co-sponsored by the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association in memory of Nicholas A. Virgilio, a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, who died in 1989. The Haiku Society of America is also a co-sponor of the contest, providing judges, and publ...

25/03/2022

THE NICHOLAS A. VIRGILIO MEMORIAL STUDENT HAIKU AND SENRYU COMPETITION FOR GRADES 7-12

Founded by the Sacred Heart Church in Camden, NJ, and co-sponsored by the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association in memory of Nicholas A. Virgilio, a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, who died in 1989. The Haiku Society of America is also a co-sponor of the contest, providing judges, and publishing the results in Frogpond and on the HSA Web site.

Virgilio Student Haiku Contest:
Opens February 1, 2022 and closes March 21, 2022.

Submissions guidelines for 2022

See the 2021 awards:

Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial
Student Haiku and Senryu Competition Collection

https://www.hsa-haiku.org/hsa-contests.htm

Founded by the Sacred Heart Church in Camden, NJ, and co-sponsored by the Nick Virgilio Haiku Association in memory of Nicholas A. Virgilio, a charter member of the Haiku Society of America, who died in 1989. The Haiku Society of America is also a co-sponor of the contest, providing judges, and publ...

06/02/2022

ANNOUNCING CONTEST RESULTS!!!

Hello Haiku Community,

We conclude yet another year of the Africa Haiku Prize 2021 and it is our utmost pleasure to announce to you the winning haiku of both of the African and Non-African Category.

Again we are very grateful for your overwhelming support and interest in Africa haiku evidenced in your submissions and participation from all over. In that same spirit of friendship, we pray you pardon us for the delay in releasing these results.

Congratulations to all the winning poets. For more details and judges' commentary on the winning submissions please follow this link:

https://africahaikunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/africa-haiku-prize-2021-results-4.pdf

Best regards,
AHN team.

24/12/2021

Season's Greetings!

It's the end of the year, and the most exciting part too. We couldn't be more glad to have had this journey with you, our submitters and readers, the whole Africa Haiku Network.

As you enjoy this festive holiday, may all the miracles of Christmas reach you and yours.

Merry Christmas everybody from all of us at Africa Haiku Network.

Christmas gift-
she unwraps
a smile

(c)Kwaku Feni Adow

03/12/2021

AFRICA HAIKU NETWORK & AKITA UNIVERSITY HOST HAIKU WORKSHOP!!!

Africa Haiku Network collaborates with Akita University to host a haiku workshop for African students at Akita University. The workshop will be led by Prof. Ben Grafström, a lecturer at Akita University's Global Center for Higher Education. Students at the workshop will be introduced to Japanese haiku poetry in order to encourage them to write haiku inspired by their African settings. The workshop's haiku will be published later in the February 2022 issue of The Mamba, Africa's official haiku journal.

25/11/2021

||||||||||||| N O T I C E |||||||||||||

We wish to bring to your attention the extension in deadline of submission for the Africa Haiku Prize 2021. As such, the current deadline is 20th December, 2021. This is to allow late submitters ample time to send in their haiku. Everything else about the contest remains.

-We accept only African themed haiku i.e. haiku about African sights, sounds and settings. Haiku based on non-African theme will not be accepted, however, haiku with universal themes may be considered.
– Haiku must contain clear images, settings and juxtaposition.
– Haiku must be concise and as brief as possible.
- A 17 syllable haiku accepted but not encouraged.
– One-word or one-liner haiku will not be accepted.
– We will not tolerate plagiarism, profanity, use of vulgar words and politically
motivated verses.
– We encourage the use of African season words as opposed to the Japanese kigo.
– We do not accept haiga.
– Please submit up to five (5) haiku for this contest.

Submission window opens from September 1, 2021, to December 20th, 2021, and should be sent to: [email protected], the official email address of Africa Haiku Network.

Emails should carry subject line “Africa Haiku Prize 2021”, followed by name and
country of submitter in the body of mail.

Results will be out between December 2021 and January 2022 and judges or panel announced concurrently.

Judges or panel’s decision on winning haiku is final and not subject to negotiation.
There is no restriction on submitter’s age, and every person can submit to either the
African Category or Non-African Category with the exception of members of Africa
Haiku Network editorial team.

The overall winners in each category will receive gifts and certificate. While 2nd and
3rd place winners in each category receive certificate only. We will also acknowledge
other distinguished non-winning haiku by way of honorable mention.

We hope to improve upon winners’ prizes in the years ahead.

25/11/2021

Hello good people!

We are receiving submissions for our February 2022 issue of the Mamba, Journal of Africa Haiku Network.

Submissions for the February 2022 issue is opened from now until January 15, 2021.

It'd be our pleasure to have you send us your ever inspiring haiku.

Do see link in post for more info on submission guidelines.

Best, AHN Team.

https://africahaikunetwork.wordpress.com/submission-guides/

30/09/2021

It is our utmost delight to once more bring you yet another issue of Africa's only haiku journal, the Mamba. It has always been challenging compiling and putting the journal together, but you, our submitters and readers from around the globe make it worth it with your ever renewed interest and thus propel us to ever serve you with more haiku from seasoned haijins in and outside Africa.

We hope you do enjoy this issue. Clink on the link below to access our new journal of haiku. Cheers!!
https://africahaikunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2021/09/mamba-september-2021-issue-1.pdf

01/09/2021

||||||||||||| A N N O U N C E M E N T |||||||||||||

It is a brand new month, and an exciting announcement to go with it. The Africa Haiku Prize 2021 is opened for submissions. For this year's contest:

-We accept only African themed haiku i.e. haiku about African sights, sounds and settings. Haiku based on non-African theme will not be accepted, however, haiku with universal themes may be considered.
– Haiku must contain clear images, settings and juxtaposition.
– Haiku must be concise and as brief as possible.
- A 17 syllable haiku accepted but not encouraged.
– One-word or one-liner haiku will not be accepted.
– We will not tolerate plagiarism, profanity, use of vulgar words and politically
motivated verses.
– We encourage the use of African season words as opposed to the Japanese kigo.
– We do not accept haiga.
– Please submit up to five (5) haiku for this contest.

Submission window opens from September 1, 2021, to November 30, 2021, and should be sent to: [email protected], the official email address of Africa Haiku Network.

Emails should carry subject line “Africa Haiku Prize 2021”, followed by name and
country of submitter in the body of mail.

Results will be out between December 2021 and January 2022 and judges or panel announced concurrently.

Judges or panel’s decision on winning haiku is final and not subject to negotiation.
There is no restriction on submitter’s age, and every person can submit to either the
African Category or Non-African Category with the exception of members of Africa
Haiku Network editorial team.

The overall winners in each category will receive gifts and certificate. While 2nd and
3rd place winners in each category receive certificate only. We will also acknowledge
other distinguished non-winning haiku by way of honorable mention.

We hope to improve upon winners’ prizes in the years ahead.